John Grassel

John Grassel is a Forensic Science Program Manager at RTI. In this role, he leads cutting-edge, technology-driven efforts to support basic and applied research serving the criminal justice and forensic science communities. Mr. Grassel serves as the Co-Principal Investigator for the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE), which supports the forensic science and criminal justice communities with transitioning research into practice. He is also the Principal Investigator for the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Implementation of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) Standards for Scene Investigation project.

Mr. Grassel is certified by the International Association of Identification as both a Certified Footwear Examiner and Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst. He is also a Certified Forensic Mapping Specialist and Public Safety Laser Scan Technician. Mr. Grassel is the current Vice President of the International Association for Identification (IAI), a Past President of the New England Division of the IAI. He serves as the IAI chair on the ISO-US TAG. In addition, he is the Chairperson of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Forensic Science Committee and serves on the FBI Rapid DNA Task Force Working Group and the OSAC Footwear and Tire Subcommittee.

Before joining RTI, Mr. Grassel served as the officer in charge of the Rhode Island State Police Forensic Services Unit. In this role, he supervised all crime scene functions, pattern evidence examinations, bloodstain pattern analysis, shooting reconstruction, and video analysis. Additionally, Mr. Grassel served for 28 years on active duty and in the reserves of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.